Door hinge



H. 1;. MARSH Aug. 27, 1940.

DOOR HINGE Filed May 13, 1959 I I I I I I I I I I I n v IN V EN TOR.

iii,

and moreparticularly to hinges for automobile Patented Aug. 27, 1940 UNITED STATES PATENT F ICE azlassz noon H iNGE Howard E. Marsh, Ventura, Calif. Application May 13, 1939,:Serial No. 273,449 1 14 Claims. (c1, '1e 1,7 9') *My present invention relates to a door hinge,

doors, and thelike.

One of the principal objects of this invention is l to provide a-hinge of this class which may be Wholly concealed within the automobile body irrespective of the inward curvature of the body from the hinge aims of the door.

Another important object of this invention to provide a hinge of this class which will sup port the door rigidly in any swung position, and which is simple and economical of construction, and which will not readily deteriorate.

An important object also of this invention is the provision of a hinge whereby the door may be variously moved on and about the hinge, and in which the hinge joint is simply constructed to permit such various movements.

A further important object of this invention is to provide a hinge whereby the door may be moved outwardly a slight distance before it is swung outwardly about the hinge, and further to provide simple and novel means of forcing the door inwardly, other than on a pivotal axis, and novel means for holding the door in such inward position.

- A still further object of this invention is to provide simple and novel means of initially forcing the door outwardly, after it is unlatched and before it is swung about its hinged axis. 7

An object also of this invention is to provide simple and efiicient means of adjustment for varying the effort required to open the door.

With these and other objects in view, as will appear hereinafter, I have devised a door hinge having certain novel features of construction, combination, and arrangement of parts and portions, as will be hereinafter described in detail and particularly set forth in the appended claims, reference being had to the accompanying drawing and to the characters of reference thereon which form a partof this application, in which:

Fig. l is a fragmentary horizontal section taken through an automobile body and door, showing my hinge, in one form, mounted thereon,

. at one edge of the door, and showing a latch at the opposite edge of the door;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary sectional elevation of the hinge, taken at 2--2 of Fig. 1; and,

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary section thereof taken at 3-3 of Figure 1.

The automobile body, designated B, and the door designated D, are constructed generally as in the conventional automobile. The outside of the door-may be provided with a bead or flangeD which extends beyond the normal edges of the door and is adapted to fit into corresponding grooves B at the outside of the body surrounding the door opening.

In thisinstance I have provided a stationary hinge bracket I on the body, and a movablehinge bracket 2' on the door. The stationary bracket has a vertical securing flange I? which is fastened to the inner side of the wall forming the abutting'face of the body. This bracket also has a horizontal flange l which extends outwardly from 'the'flange I through an opening in the abutting face of thebody. Near the outer end of the horizontal flange l is an upwardly extending guide 3 which forms the pintle of the hingex I The movable bracket consists essentially of a slotted arcuate portion 2 which rests upon the horizontal flange l The guide 3 extends into theslot-of the arcuate portion 2 Intermediate the ends of the arcuate portion 2 are'provided laterally extending ears 2' which secure the bracket-2 to the inner side of the wall forming the abutting face of the door. cuate portion extends into the door, but the greater partof the arcuate portion extends, when thedoo'r is. closed, into the body.

"The guide 3 is elongated so that it remains in a fixedsliding position in the slot of the arcuate portion 2 which I have referred to herein as a slide. This prevents pivoting of the door about the guide, but forces the. guide to move longitudinally in the slot, and forces the door to be swung about an axis which is the theoretical center of the radius of the arcuate slot.

The guide is preferably made with substantially cylindrical portions 3 at its ends with a reduced connecting portion 3 The slotted arcuate portion 2 of the movable bracket'is secured to the supporting flange l of the bracket I, by means of a screw 4. Between the upper side of the arcuate-portion 2 and the head of the screw are provided washers 5 and '6. The washer 5 may have downwardlyextending lugs 5 which engage the reduced sides of the guide 3 to prevent the washer 5 from turning. The member 6 may be a conventional spring washer; I The end of the slotted portion, placed within the door, merges into a slotted portion 2 of considerably less curvature and which is preferably straight andtangent to the arcuate portion. This slotted portion of less curvature I have referred to herein as substantially straight, to dis- A part of the ariii? tinguish the same from the main or arcuately slotted portion.

This straight slot or slotted portion 2 is inclined at an angle to the outer side or face of the .door in such a manner that the door is moved bodily (that is, without noticeably swinging) outwardly at an angle from the body in its initial opening movement, or inwardly at an angle toward the body in its final closing movement.

To compel the initial angular outward movement, I have provided a spring means, in the form of two compression springs I, at the inner concealed end of the movable bracket. These springs are positioned between the inner end of the bracket and a shoe 8 which is slidably mounted in the bracket with one end extended slightly into the end of the straight portion 2 of the slot. When the door is closed, this inner end of the shoe engages the guide, and when the door is opened, the springs urge the shoe against the guide andforce the door outwardly at an angle. The action of the springs is limited by a limiting shoulder for the shoe.

To facilitate the compression of the springs when closing or desiring to close ;th e door, I have provided a wedge action at the free edge of the door which may consist of an inclined surface or surfaces l I on the face of the door opening of the body B, and a corresponding inclined surface or surfaces I2 at the free edge of the door.

At thefree edge of the door is provided the usual latch, which is shown as consisting of a bolt 2| which is urged into the keeper or recess 22, when the door is closed, by the spring 23. When the bolt is retracted or withdrawn from the recess 22 by the handle 24 or 25, the springs 1 force the door outwardly in the initial outward movement. It will be noted that if the body and door of the automobile curve inwardly, either above or below, thepivotal axis of the door is not changed,

and since the hinge brackets are enclosed in the body and door, it is necessary only to increase the radius of the arcuate portion of the movable bracket. Since such modification is only a matter-of degree, it need not be illustrated.

Though I have shown and described a particular construction, a particular embodiment in or relation to the body and door of an automobile, and certain modifications thereof, I do not wish to be limited to the same, but desire to include in the scope of-my invention the construction, combination, and arrangement substantially as set forth in the appended claims.

, I claim:

1. In a door hinge for connecting abutting edge portions of a hollow casing member anda hollow door member, a hinge bracket secured to the abutting portion of one of said members and extending into the interior of the other of said members, said bracket being provided at the latter portion with a guide, and a second hinge bracket secured to the other of said members and provided with a slide having an arcuate portion mounted in slidable relation with said guide, said slide extending to the opposite sides of the face of the abutting portion of the member on which it ismounted. I '2. In a door hinge for connecting abutting edge 0 portions of a hollow casing member and a hollow door member, a hinge bracket secured to the cured to the other of said members and provided with a slide having an arcuate portion mounted in slidable relation with said guide, said slide extending to the opposite sides of the face of the abutting portion of the member on which it is mounted, and means for frictionally and adjustably securing said hinge brackets together.

3. In a door hinge for connecting abutting edge portions of a hollow casing member and a hollow door member, a hinge bracket secured to the abutting portion of one of said members and extending into the interior of the other of said members, said bracket being provided at the latter portion with a guide, and a second hinge stantially straight and merging into the arcuate portion for cooperation therewith and with the guide.

4. In a door hinge for connecting abutting edge portions of a hollow casing member and a hollow door member, a hinge bracket secured to the abutting portion of one of said members and extending into the interior of the other of said members, said bracket being provided at the latter portion with a guide, and a second hinge bracket secured to the other of said members and provided with a slide having an arcuate portion mounted in slidable relation with said guide, said slide extending to the opposite sides of the face of the abutting portion of the member on which it is mounted, the inner end of the portion of the slide extending into the latter member being substantially straight and merging into the arcuate portion for cooperation therewith and with the guide, said substantially straight portion being inclined at an angle toward the outer side of the door member.

5.'In a door hinge, the combination with an abutting hollow casing and a hollow door, of a hinge bracket secured to the abutting portion of one of said members and extending into the interior ofthe other of said members, said bracket being provided at the latter portion with a guide, a second hinge bracket secured to the other of said members and provided with a slide having an arcuate portion mounted in slidable relation with said guide, said slide extending to the opposite sides of the face of the abutting portion of the member on which it is mounted, the inner end of the portion of the slide extending into the latter member being substantially straight and merging into the arcuate portion for cooperation therewith and with the guide, said substantially straight portion being inclined at an angle toward the outer side of the door member, spring means for forcing the guide from the substantially straight portion when the door member is opened, and means at the free edge of the door member for forcing the guide against the action of the spring.

6. In a door hinge for connecting abutting edge portions of a hollow casing member and a hollow door member, a hinge bracket secured to the abutting portion of one of said members and extending into the interior of the other of said members, said bracket being provided at the latter portion with an elongated guide, and a second. hinge bracket secured to the other of said members. and provided with a slide having an arcuate slot into which the guide extends and is adapted to move longitudinally, said slide extending to the opposite sides of the face of the abutting portion of the member on which it is mounted.

7. In a door hinge for connecting abutting edge portions of a hollow casing member and a hollow door member, a hinge bracket secured to the abutting portion of one of said members and extending into the interior of the other of said members, said bracket being provided at the latter portion with an elongated guide having enlarged substantially cylindrical ends and being reduced intermediate the ends, and a second hinge bracket secured to the other of said members and provided with a slide having an arcuate slot into which the guide extends and is adapted to move longitudinally, the enlarged substantially cylindrical ends engaging the opposite walls of the slot, said slide extending to the opposite sides of the face of the abutting portion of the member on which it is mounted.

8. In a door hinge for connecting abutting edge portions of a hollow casing member and a hollow door member, a hinge bracket secured to the abutting portion of one of said members and extending into the interior of the other of said members, said bracket being provided at the latter portion with an elongated guide, and a second hinge bracket secured to the other of said members and-provided with a slide having an arcuate slot into which the guide extends and is adapted to move longitudinally, said slide extending to the opposite sides of the face of the abutting portion of the member on which it is mounted, the portion of the slot at the inner end of the slide extending into the latter member being substantially straight and merging into the arcuate slot.

9. In a door hinge for connecting abutting edge portions of a hollow casing member and a hollow door member, a hinge bracket secured to the abutting portion of one of said members and extending into the interior of the other of said members, said bracket being provided at the latter portion with an elongated guide, and a second hinge bracket secured to the other of said members and provided with a slide having an arcuate slot into which the guide extends and is adapted to move longitudinally, said slide extending to the opposite sides of the face of the abutting portion of the member on which it is mounted, the portion of the slot at the inner end of the slide extending into the latter member being substantially straight and merging into the arcuate slot, said substantially straight slot portion being inclined at an angle toward the outer side of the door member.

10. In a door hinge, the combination with an abutting hollow casing and a hollow door, of a hinge bracket secured to the abutting portion of one of said members and extending into the interior of the other of said members, said bracket being provided at the latter portion with an elongated guide, a second hinge bracket secured to the other of said members and provided with a slide having an arcuate slot into which the guide extends and is adapted to move longitudinally, said slide extending to the opposite sides of the face of the abutting portion of the member on which it is mounted, the portion of the slot at the inner end of the slide extending into the latter member being substantially straight and merging into the arcuate slot, said substantially straight slot portion being inclined at an angle toward the outer side of the door member, spring means for forcing the guide from the substantially straight portion of the slot toward the arcuate portion when the door member is opened, and means at the free edge of the door member for forcing the guide against the action of the spring.

11. In a door hinge for connecting abutting edge portions of a hollow casing member and a hollow door member, a hinge bracket secured to one of said members and provided at its extended end with a guide, and a second hinge bracket secured to and extending from the other of said members and provided with a slide having an arcuate portion mounted in slidable relation with said guide, the portion of the slide adjacent the latter member being substantially straight and merging into the arcuate portion for cooperation therewith and with the guide.

12. In a door hinge for connecting abutting edge portions of a hollow casing member and a hollow door member, a hinge bracket secured to one of said members and provided at its extended end with a guide, and a second hinge bracket secured to and extending from the other of said members and provided with a slide having an arcuate portion mounted in slidable relation with said guide, the portion of the slide adjacent the latter member being substantially straight and merging into the arcuate portion for cooperation therewith and with the guide, said substantially straight portion being inclined at an angle toward the outer side of the door member.

13. In a door hinge, the combination with an abutting hollow casing member and a hollow door member, of a hinge bracket secured to and extending from one of said members and provided at its extended end with a guide, a second hinge member secured to the other of said members and provided with a slide having an arcuate portion mounted in slidable relation with said guide, the portion of the slide adjacent the latter member being substantially straight and merging into the arcuate portion for cooperation therewith and with theguide, spring means for forcing the guide from the substantially straight portion when the door member is opened, thereby ejecting the door member from its closed position, and inclined engaging surface means in association with the free edge of the door member for forcing the guide against the action of the spring when the door member is closed.

14. In a door hinge, the combination with an abutting hollow casing member and a hollow door member, of a hinge bracket secured to and extending from one of said members and provided at its extended end with a guide, a second hinge member secured to the other of said members and provided with a slide having an arcuate portion mounted in slidable relation with said guide, the portion of the slide adjacent the latter memher being substantially straight and merging into the arcuate portion for cooperation therewith and with the guide, said substantially straight portion being inclined at an angle toward the outer side of the door member, spring means for forcing the uide from the substantially straight portion when the door member is opened, thereby ejecting the door member from its closed position, and inclined engaging surface means in association with the free edge of the door member for forcing the guide against the action of the spring when the door member is closed.

HOWARD E. MARSH. 

